Mom had severe back problems and Mary came to do a lot of the things she couldn't. Especially before her spinal fusion. Whenever she was there, I followed Mary around like I was tethered to her. I liked it when she was there. She was sweet, mild mannered and she looked at me when I spoke. Sometimes, she would sit down so we were eye to eye and she never, ever didn't thoughtfully answer what must have been the tedious questions of a seven year old.
Mary would always keep a jar under the sink to drink out of, rather than a glass. My mother did not know this. I just thought Mary liked jars and often asked if I could drink out of one too. Mary always gave me a glass. One day, my mom came into the kitchen while Mary and I were having lunch. I was at the table and Mary was standing at the counter. Mom caught her drinking out of a jar. I did not understand what Mary said when she was asked why she was using a jar instead of a glass but I remember very clearly my mother's response. She said, "Mary, if you are good enough to take care of my babies, you are good enough to drink out of my glassess." With that, she poured Mary's drink into a glass and put the jar in the sink. After Mom left the kitchen, Mary washed her jar and put it back under the sink. Washing it and carefully replacing it to her spot under the sink, and careful not to let anyone catch me, I would drink out of Mary's jar when she wasn't there.
I loved Mary and I still like drinking out of jars.
